Controlling access to resource functions at a control point of the resource via a user device

Abstract

Controlling access resource functions. Establishing, by a resource access manager, enrollment information (e) for each of a plurality of users. Encrypting, by the access manager, each received (e) in an authorization data item for the corresponding user. Transmitting, by the access manager, each authorization data item to a corresponding user device. Receiving, by a resource control point, from a user device, a request for access to a function of the resource, the request for access comprising the received authorization data item and verification information (v). Decrypting, by the control point, the received authorization data item to extract (e). Determining, by the control point, a similarity measure between (v) and (e). For a determined similarity measure greater than or equal to a threshold, authorizing, by the control point, the request for access. For a determined similarity measure less than the threshold, denying, by control point, the request for access.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A computer-implemented method to control access to functions of a resource, comprising:
 establishing, by an access manager of a resource, enrollment information (e) for each of a plurality of users; 
 encrypting, by the access manager, each received enrollment information (e) in an authorization data item for the corresponding user; 
 transmitting, by the access manager, each authorization data item to a user computing device of the corresponding user; 
 receiving, by a control point of the resource, from a user computing device having received a transmitted authorization data item, a request for access to a function of the resource, the request for access comprising the received authorization data item and verification information (v); 
 decrypting, by the control point, the received authorization data item to extract enrollment information (e); 
 determining, by the control point, a similarity measure between (v) and (e); 
 for a determined similarity measure greater than or equal to a threshold, authorizing, by the control point, the request for access; and 
 for a determined similarity measure less than the threshold, denying, by control point, the request for access. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the enrollment information (e) and the verification information (v) comprise information describing a user biometric characteristic. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the biometric characteristic comprises one of:
 a fingerprint, a voiceprint, eye pattern, and facial pattern. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein access to the function of the resource comprises at least one of: access to electronic payment functions, access to an account, access to a physically restricted space, and access to information. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the similarity measure comprises a cosine similarity measure in a common space defined by vector components of (v) and (e). 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the resource comprises a merchant system at a merchant location, and the control point is a point-of-sale (POS) device of the merchant system. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein:
 receiving a request for access comprises:
 transmitting, by the merchant system, a request for authorization data items to each of a plurality of user devices meeting a predetermined criteria; 
 receiving, by the merchant system, an authorization data item (v) from each of the plurality user devices; 
 receiving, by the merchant system, after receiving an authorization data item from a particular user device from among the plurality of user devices, verification information (v) from a first user device; 
 
 decrypting comprises decrypting, by the POS device, each received authorization data item to extract the enrollment information (e); and 
 determining a similarity measure between (v) and (e) comprises determining, by the POS device a similarity measure between the received verification information (v) from a first user device and each extracted enrollment information (e). 
 
     
     
       8. A computer program product, comprising:
 a non-transitory computer-readable storage device having computer-executable program instructions embodied thereon that when executed by a computer cause the computer to control access to functions of a resource, the computer-executable program instructions comprising:
 computer-executable program instructions to establish, by an access manager of the resource, enrollment information (e) for each of a plurality of users; 
 computer-executable program instructions to encrypt, by the access manager, each received enrollment information (e) in an authorization data item for the corresponding user; 
 computer-executable program instructions to transmit, by the access manager, each authorization data item to a user computing device of the corresponding user; 
 computer-executable program instructions to receive, by a control point of the resource, from a user computing device having received a transmitted authorization data item, a request for access to a function of the resource, the request for access comprising the received authorization data item and verification information (v); 
 computer-executable program instructions to decrypt, by the control point, the received authorization data item to extract enrollment information (e); 
 computer-executable program instructions to determine, by the control point, a similarity measure between (v) and (e); 
 computer-executable program instructions, for a determined similarity measure greater than or equal to a threshold, to authorize, by the control point, the request for access; and 
 computer-executable program instructions, for a determined similarity measure less than the threshold, to deny, by control point, the request for access. 
 
 
     
     
       9. The computer program product of  claim 8 , wherein the enrollment information (e) and the verification information (v) comprise information describing a user biometric characteristic. 
     
     
       10. The computer program product of  claim 9 , wherein the biometric characteristic comprises one of: a fingerprint, a voiceprint, eye pattern, and facial pattern. 
     
     
       11. The computer program product of  claim 8 , wherein access to the function of the resource comprises at least one of: access to electronic payment functions, access to an account, access to a physically restricted space, and access to information. 
     
     
       12. The computer program product of  claim 8 , wherein the similarity measure comprises a cosine similarity measure in a common space defined by vector components of (v) and (e). 
     
     
       13. The computer program product of  claim 8 , wherein the resource comprises a merchant system at a merchant location, and the control point is a point-of-sale (POS) device of the merchant system. 
     
     
       14. The computer program product of  claim 13 , wherein:
 computer-executable program instructions to receive a request for access comprise:
 computer-executable program instructions to transmit, by the merchant system, a request for authorization data items to each of a plurality of user devices meeting a predetermined criteria; 
 computer-executable program instructions to receive, by the merchant system, an authorization data item (v) from each of the plurality user devices; 
 computer-executable program instructions to receive, by the merchant system, after receiving an authorization data item from a particular user device from among the plurality of user devices, verification information (v) from a first user device; 
 
 computer-executable program instructions to decrypt comprise computer-executable program instructions to decrypt, by the POS device, each received authorization data item to extract the enrollment information (e); and 
 computer-executable program instructions to determine a similarity measure between (v) and (e) comprise computer-executable program instructions to determine, by the POS device, a similarity measure between the received verification information (v) from a first user device and each extracted enrollment information (e). 
 
     
     
       15. A system to control access to functions of a resource, the system comprising:
 a storage device; and 
 a processor communicatively coupled to the storage device, wherein the processor executes application code instructions that are stored in the storage device to cause the system to:
 establish, by an access manager of the resource, enrollment information (e) for each of a plurality of users; 
 encrypt, by the access manager, each received enrollment information (e) in an authorization data item for the corresponding user; 
 transmit, by the access manager, each authorization data item to a user computing device of the corresponding user; 
 receive, by a control point of the resource, from a user computing device having received a transmitted authorization data item, a request for access to a function of the resource, the request for access comprising the received authorization data item and verification information (v); 
 decrypt, by the control point, the received authorization data item to extract enrollment information (e); 
 determine, by the control point, a similarity measure between (v) and (e); 
 for a determined similarity measure greater than or equal to a threshold, authorize, by the control point, the request for access; and 
 for a determined similarity measure less than the threshold, deny, by control point, the request for access. 
 
 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the enrollment information (e) and the verification information (v) comprise information describing a user biometric characteristic. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 16 , wherein the biometric characteristic comprises one of: a fingerprint, a voiceprint, eye pattern, and facial pattern. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the similarity measure comprises a cosine similarity measure in a common space defined by vector components of (v) and (e). 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the resource comprises a merchant system at a merchant location, and the control point is a point-of-sale (POS) device of the merchant system. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 19 , wherein:
 application code instructions to cause the system to receive a request for access comprise:
 application code instructions to cause the system to transmit, by the merchant system, a request for authorization data items to each of a plurality of user devices meeting a predetermined criteria; 
 application code instructions to cause the system to receive, by the merchant system, an authorization data item (v) from each of the plurality user devices; 
 application code instructions to cause the system to receive, by the merchant system, after receiving an authorization data item from a particular user device from among the plurality of user devices, verification information (v) from a first user device; 
 
 application code instructions to cause the system to decrypt comprise application code instructions to cause the system to decrypt, by the POS device, each received authorization data item to extract the enrollment information (e); and 
 application code instructions to cause the system to determine a similarity measure between (v) and (e) comprises application code instructions to cause the system to determine, by the POS device, a similarity measure between the received verification information (v) from a first user device and each extracted enrollment information (e).